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ART AND TECHNOLOGY MERGE FOR DYNAMIC, INTERACTIVE CLASS EXPERIENCE

Art and Technology have not always merged easily in the classroom. In the past most students viewed an Art History course as a traditional lecture experienced in a dark room with endless images projected on a white screen with a slide projector. The professor lectured for 2-3 hours and the student was expected to take meticulous notes. However, PSUAD recognized worldwide for their programs in Humanities and Social Sciences is making initial steps to embrace a dynamic and interactive art history experience that actively engages the learners. An interactive whiteboard is the first major tool providing endless advantages for merging technology and art history in the classroom including:
  • allowing students access to information when and where they need it
  • allowing the professor to maintain participant interest with an exciting, dynamic delivery using a variety of digital media and state-of-the-art technology
  • encouraging students to interact, discuss, question and work together
  • computers giving the ability to work with images directly and allow students to see the classroom as a collaborative space

Along with the Interactive Whiteboard other technology and software available in the classroom include:

  • iMac
  • 1-Mac Mini
  • document camera
  • DVD/VHS player
  • iLife Suite
  • iWork Suite
  • Microsoft Office
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Gooogle Sketch Up

Here's How it Works: Interactive Whiteboards Enhancing the Traditional Curriculum

In a Modern Art class, students are examining the early Cubists works of Pablo Picasso including Seated Woman 1908 in comparison with his later work Musical Instruments, 1912.
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Seated Woman, 1908
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Musical Instruments, 1912

Seated Woman, 1908 Musical Instruments, 1912

In the past, projecting two images was very cumbersome with the professor expected to operate two slide projectors. However, the interactive whiteboard enhances the course by allowing:
  • both images to be projected on the screen at the same time
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  • opportunity to examine the details in each work by zooming in on the image or hiding some details to reveal more information later
  • the professor to direct students to other online links such as the Heritage Museum where they can zoom in and observe details of other works created by the same artist, same art period, etc. http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/02/hm2_0.html . Along with visual images students are exposed to audio lecture regarding the work of Picasso from this period as the class easily clicks to
Picasso's Demoiselles d'Avignon Turns 100 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7708283

Discussion is integral to the course which also breaks tradition with traditional art history format where the professor spoke for at length and students merely listened. Dynamic discussion and exchange of ideas occurs when students are asked to now compare and contrast the works of Picasso to the Cubist painting Still Life by Diego Rivera. As text can also be integrated into the white board, shared student comments and ideas are added to the lecture.


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Still Live, 1915

Expansive e-Library at PSUAD

With a flick of the mouse the professor then enters the PSUAD e-library consisting of over 60,000 books and journals and the students as a group read from the books Diego Rivera: A Man and HIs Murals and Cubism and Its Histories. Pages are projected on the whiteboard and further discussion integral to this courses allows all students to participate. No book is required, yet students share the learning experience as a collective community. Along the way students begin to appreciate the classroom as a collaborative space and not just a lecture hall and this integrated learning experience allows for both a deeper understanding and appreciation for the artists, art works and art periods studied in class.

MOODLE

When class is completed all course information is saved by uploading into archives on MOODLE allowing students to:

  • continue accessing and reviewing the information when the professor is no longer in town
  • use the archived information to generate required essays, research documents, etc.
  • promote participation in chat groups and discussion forums to further debate/discuss the image, art period, similar art movements and more.
  • use information for preparation of exams

Sample of Available Online Resources-Professors can access instantly in class
The World Wide Web Virtual Library: History of Art: /http://www.chart.ac.uk/vlib/departments.html
Topic: Art History: http://www.besthistorysites.net/ArtHistory.__shtm__
Artcyclopedia: http://www.artcyclopedia.com/
World Wide Web Virtual Art History Library: http://www.chart.ac.uk/vlib
Louvre Museum: http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en

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